The opening round of Borton Cup cricket saw Union and Glenavy post comfortable wins over Combined Schools and Albion respectively, while Oamaru and Valley fought out a high-scoring thriller.

The new Combined Schools side, made up of players from St Kevin’s and Waitaki Boys’, played its first ever match at St Kevins.

Union won the toss and made 302-6 from 50 overs, led by Alex Wilson’s unbeaten 101, with Liam Mavor (37), Archie Chatfield (34) and Blake James (23) also contributing.

Tai McLean and Oscar Collett took 2 wickets each for the students.

Combined Schools slumped to 19-3 and, after Hamish Fowler (43) fell at 71-5, collapsed to 84 all out in the 28th over.

Sean Conlan taking the outstanding figures of 5-1 and Mavor 2-10 as Union won by 218 runs.

Albion chose to bat with the Marshall Smith Cup on the line against Glenavy but were dismissed for only 121 in 26 overs.

Ravi Lalia (23), Aneesh Bose (25) and Jacob Davies (23) were the main contributors, while Zach Grahm took 5-34, Harry Murphy 2-20 and Flynn Sanford 2-16 for Glenavy.

Murphy then made light work of the chase, finishing on 77 not out as Glenavy won with 5 wickets in hand. Glenavy 123-5 in 26 overs.

Davies took 3-39 for Albion.

Oamaru won the toss and elected to bat against Valley..

Jamie Ferris led Oamaru with an aggressive 89 off 36 balls, and Stephan Grobler pushed the total past 300 with an unbeaten 102. Quinn Wardle (40) and Sukhijinder Rana (31) also chipped in. Oamaru 316-8 in its 50 overs.

Jacob Fowler took 3-52 from his 10 overs.

Valley started fast through Toby Growcott (60) and Hunter Growcott (26), and Luke Taylor’s 95 drove the chase. With one wicket left, Fowler (30) hit a four to seal the win, Valley finishing on 318-9 in the 46th over.

Asanka Perera took 5-56 for Oamaru and Ferris 3-67.

Short Scorecard(s)

Senior - Borton Cup - Round 1

Union Senior vs Combined Schools at St Kevins Artifical 1
Union Senior 302-6 ( A.M. Wilson 101no, L. Mavor 37, A. Chatfield 34, S. Conlan 27, B. James 23, O. Collett 2-50, T. McLean 2-65 )
Combined Schools 84 ( H. Fowler 43, S. Conlan 5-1, L. Mavor 2-10 )
Union by 218 runs.

Oamaru Senior vs Valley Senior at Don Field
Oamaru Senior 316-8 (J. Fowler 3-52 )
Valley Senior 318-9 ( L. Taylor 95, T. Growcott 60, J. Fowler 30no, H. Growcott 26, J.J. Price 23, S. Keno 22, A. Perera 5-56, J. Ferris 2-67 )
Valley by 1 wicket.

Albion Senior vs Glenavy at Glenavy
Albion Senior 121 ( A. Bose 26, J. Davies 23, Z. Graham 5-34, F. Sanford 2-16, H. Murphy 2-20 )
Glenavy 123-5 ( H. Murphy 77no, J. Davies 3-39 )
Glenavy by 5 wickets

Second Grade - Club30 - Round 1

Oamaru Club30 vs Valley Club30 at St Kevins Artifical 2
Oamaru Club30 173-7 ( F. La Grange 36no, J. Crawford 33, H. Singh 24, A. Basliyal 2-10 )
Valley Club30 163-9 ( S. Isbister 50, S. Sherekar 36, H. Singh 2-28, F. La Gange 2-28, G. Rukmal 2-28 )
Oamaru by 10 runs.

Union Club30 vs Waitaki Boys 2nd XI at Don Field 2
Waitaki Boys 2nd XI 169-8 ( D. Kelynack 29, S. Anderson 25, J. Drew 25, G. Curry 3-21, B. McCormack 2-45 )
Union Club30 170-3 ( L. Evans 101no, C. Mather 24 )
Union by 6 wickets.